Noise producing device

Abstract

A noise-producing device comprises a body ( 12 ) having a clamp ( 24 ) for mounting the body to a frame member of a bicycle or other motorless vehicle with spoked wheels. The device includes a card holder ( 15 ) for securing a resiliently flexible card ( 14 ) to the body such hat the card extends freely outwardly from the body. A resonant chamber ( 18 ) in the body amplifies the sound produced by the intermittent interaction of the free end of the card with the spokes of the bicycle wheel.

1. A noise-producing device comprising a body having means for mounting the body to a frame member of a bicycle, a card holder for securing a resiliently flexible card-like member (“card”) to the body such that the card extends freely outwardly from the body, and a resonant chamber in the body for amplifying the sound produced by the intermittent interaction of the free end of the card with a bicycle wheel, and further including a hollow component removably mountable on the body with its interior in communication with the resonant chamber for further amplifying the sound produced by the card, and wherein the means for mounting the body to a frame member of a bicycle comprises an open channel extending into the body in which a frame member can be received. 
   
   
     2. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resonant chamber is in the form of a bore extending through the body and open at at least one end. 
   
   
     3. A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the bore extends through the body in a direction transverse to the direction in which the card extends from the body. 
   
   
     4. A device as claims in  claim 3 , wherein the bore is open at both ends and is provided with end caps for sealing the bore and altering the resonant characteristics of the chamber. 
   
   
     5. A device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the hollow sound-amplifying component has a generally funnel-like shape with a relatively narrow open end removably mountable on the body in communication with the resonant chamber. 
   
   
     6. A device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the narrow open end of the hollow sound-amplifying component fits into the said at least one open end of the bore. 
   
   
     7. A device as claimed in  claim 6 , further including an apertured reflector fitted to an opposite relatively wide open end of the hollow sound-amplifying component. 
   
   
     8. A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the bore is open at both ends and is provided with end caps for sealing the bore and altering the resonant characteristics of the chamber. 
   
   
     9. A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the hollow sound-amplifying component has a generally funnel-like shape with a relatively narrow open end removably mountable on the body in communication with the resonant chamber. 
   
   
     10. A device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the narrow open end of the hollow sound-amplifying component fits into the said at least one open end of the bore. 
   
   
     11. A device as claimed in  claim 10 , further including an apertured reflector fitted to an opposite relatively wide open end of the hollow sound-amplifying component. 
   
   
     12. A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the means for mounting the body to a frame member of a bicycle comprises an open channel extending into the body in which a frame member can be received and wherein the channel is substantially parallel to the resonant chamber. 
   
   
     13. A device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the open channel comprises a pair of side walls and a base for receiving the frame member, the device further including a fastening means to draw the side walls together and thereby grip the frame member in the base. 
   
   
     14. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hollow sound-amplifying component has a generally funnel-like shape with a relatively narrow open end removably mountable on the body in communication with the resonant chamber. 
   
   
     15. A device as claimed in  claim 14 , further including an apertured reflector fitted to an opposite relatively wide open end of the hollow sound-amplifying component. 
   
   
     16. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hollow sound-amplifying component is retained in position on the body by a removable pin which passes through a hole in the body to engage the hollow sound-amplifying component, the pin also retaining the card against removal from the card holder. 
   
   
     17. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the open channel comprises a pair of side walls and a base for receiving the frame member, the device further including a fastening means to draw the side walls together and thereby grip the frame member in the base. 
   
   
     18. A device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the base has at least one removable lining member for accommodating frame members of different diameter. 
   
   
     19. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the card holder comprises a slot which is adapted to retain the card by its edges so that a majority of the surface of the card facing away from the body is exposed. 
   
   
     20. A device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the resonant chamber is open to the surface of the card facing towards the body. 
   
   
     21. A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body has an external surface including a display area, wherein the display area is disposed on the body to face in the direction opposite to the direction in which the card extends in use. 
   
   
     22. The combination of a device as claimed in  claim 1  and a resiliently flexible card-like member mounted in the card holder.